Outdoor paddling pools have been shut down after environmental health officers discovered unacceptable levels of bacteria.

The outdoor paddling pools in Great Hollands and Jocks Lane in Priestwood had to close ahead of the hottest weekend of the year so far because routine tests uncovered high ‘aerobic colony counts’.

Steve Loudoun, chief officer for environment and public protection at Bracknell Forest Council, said: “Results showed that the disinfectant regime at both pools was failing to control water quality and environmental health officers recommended their temporary closure.

“Maintaining water quality in outdoor paddling pools during times of heavy use and sunny days is not easy.

“This is the first time in many years that we have found such problems and the Town Council [which is responsible for maintaining the paddling pools] took prompt and appropriate action to address the problem.”

Mary Harris, clerk of Bracknell Town Council, said: “The pools are chlorinated but in hot weather the chlorine is burnt off.

“We have kept on treating the water but it may be that severe weather means it has to be treated in a different way.

“We do our absolute best to maintain them to a high standard and when we were told there was a problem we took responsible action and closed them.”

The pools were shut last week but unwitting visitors came to the parks at the weekend when temperatures soared above 30C.

Wokingham mum Lucy Allen took Millie, 3, and Elsie, eight weeks, to one of the pools only to find it was closed.

She said: “We went to Great Hollands Rec because I heard how good it was through a friend and it was really nice but the whole reason we went was for the paddling pool and it was locked and we couldn’t use it.

“It’s a shame because there were a lot of other people turning up as well.”

The pools will remain closed until the water meets environmental health standards.